Storage-battery ventilation for submarines.



I B. FORD. Y STORAGE BATTERY VENTILATION FOR SUBMARINES.

- APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, I916. 1,285,659

Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

FIQE.

STORAGE-BATTERY VENTILATION FOR SUBMARINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 20, 1916. Serial No. 85,305.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BRUCE FORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Storage- Battery Ventilation for Submarines, of which the following is a specification.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide for ventilating the battery cells to the exterior of the shell of a submarine or the like, even when submerged, whereby the interior of the shell of the submarine is kept free from battery vapors or gases, and another object. of the present invention is to provide for automatically accomplishing the above result.

The invention will be claimed at the end hereof but will be first described in connec tion with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof and in which there is diagrammatically illustrated, partly in section and partly in elevation, apparatus embodying features of the invention.

In the drawings 1, are the storage battery cells. Eachof these cells is closed and its interior is connected with a vent pipe 2. The vent pipes 2, are respectively connected with a ventilating pipe 3, which is arranged to discharge through and to the outside of the shell or wall a, of a submarine or like boat. As shown this pipe 3, has its discharge end arranged through a fitting 5, and terminating short of a screen 6, so that the pipe terminates between the fitting 5, and screen 6, and can discharge into the water a. 7, 1s a -pump interposed in the pipe 3, and provided with inlet and outlet check valves shown diagrammatically at 8 and 9. 10, is a pressure chamber in communication with the pipe 3, on the outlet side of the pump. At or near the end of the pipe 3, there is a check valve shown diagrammatically at 11. On the pipe 3, at the battery side of the pump 7, there is a gage 12, (either vacuum, pressure or combination) the hand 13, of which controls the circuit 11, with source 15, and branches 16 and 17, respectively including solenoids 1S and 1S), and leading to dial contacts 20 and 21. The solenoids or electro-magnets operate the motor switch 22,

which starts and stops the motor 22% The.

motor 23, as by gears 21 and 25, operates the piston of the pump 7. The cells constituting the battery are shown as arranged in a box or chamber 26, drained as at 27, and

Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

having an inlet :28, through which air can be drawn by the connection 29, and its exhauster 30. The purpose is to dispose of any acid, electrolyte or other matter that may escape from the cells by some accident or other, for it is the intention that the cells shall remain closed; and primarily to provide a distinct and separate system of air circulation around and between the cells for regulating the battery temperature. The cover 31, of the box or chamber 26, is shown as removably clamped to place.

valves 8, 9 and 11, into the water (1, against the head thereof, building up the pressure necessary for that purpose, and in this operation the pressure chamber 10, is useful. The pump is started and stopped in response to the gas or vapor pressure of the cells 1. The term pressure is relative and includes partial vacuum. 1V hen that pressure is relatively low, the hand 13, in connection with the contact 20, and electro-magnet 18. operates the switch to stop the motor 23. and pump 7. When this gas or vapor pressure rises sufficiently to bring the hand 13, to the contact 21, the motor 23. is started by the operation of the electro-niagnct 1 and motor switch 22. In intcrnmliate positions of the hand 13, the pump is running. The relative positions of the contacts 20 and 2-1. is adjustable so that the ventilating system can be run at all. times under partial vacuum, which has its advantage. The check valve 11, serves to exclude water from the system and more particularly from the chamber 10. It is possible that gas and vapor may be collected in the chamber 10, at a pressure insufficient to overcome the head of the water a, but as the boat rises the head diminishes and such gas and vapor is expelled into the water. The described system is of course useful when the battery is being re-charged and in that case it may be discharged into the air since the boat is at the surface and the discharge end of the pipe '3, may be above/the water line. The source 15, mav be any source of current available.

Obviously changes ma be made in details of conetrnction and arrangement so that the invention is not limited as to those matters or otherwise than as the prior state of the art and the appended. claima-i'nay require.

What I claim is:

l. The combination in a submarine of a plurality of closed battery cells. a ventilation connection extending from the interior of each cell through the shell or Wall of the submarine, and a pump for Said connection adapted to operate against the hydraulic head when the submarine ia sulnnerged to ventilate the cell through the Water.

In a submarine the combination of a plurality of closed cells. a ventilation connection from the interior of the closed cells to the exterior of the submarine. a pump for said connection. means for drivin the. pump. and a pressure device responsive to predetermined, maximum and minimum pressure in the connection and adapted to automatieall} control the operation of the pump.

3. In a submarine a closed battery cell. a ventilation connection from the interior of the. cell through the wall of the submarine. a pump for said connection, a preasure ehamher for said connection arranged on the. out let aide of the pump. and a heck valve on the outlet side of the pressure chamber. subatantiall as described.

4-. in a aubmarine the combination of a storage. battery consisting of a plurality of closed cells. a re eptacle containing' the storage battery. inc-am for inducing: a circulation throuflh said receptacle and outside of the cloned cells. and independent meanu for ventilatiu; the interior of the cells oi the bat ter r.

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